Conor McGregor Pledges Free Meals Forever To Brazilian Hero Who Ended Dublin Knife Attack

McGregor offered Benicio free meals forever at his Dublin restaurant after the driver’s act of heroism. (Images via PA)

Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor praised “hero” Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio on Friday for bravely intervening in the knife attack in Dublin on Thursday, using just his motorbike helmet to fend off the perpetrator.

The incident, which occurred Thursday in Parnell Square East, left five people injured, including three young children.

Benicio’s actions were met with widespread praise on social media, when McGregor called him a “brother” and thanked him.

In an interview with the Press Association Benicio explained how while working he first noticed a commotion that he initially believed was a fight.

“I slowed down my motorcycle to see what’s going on. I realised some man and woman and a little girl involved,” he recounted. The woman, later identified as the child’s teacher, was commended by Benicio for her courage.

When Benicio saw the man pull out a knife, he said that he “acted on instinct” and struck the attacker with “all of my power.”

Unaware at the time, Benicio later learned that more children were injured in the incident.

“I wish the family all the best,” Benicio said. “I pray for her to survive. I’m a parent myself, I have two kids and I know how hard it is.”

He continued: “I saw [parents] come to the school, desperate to see how their kids are, something you can’t even imagine, the pain. I wish them all the strength possible to carry on.”

While Benicio refrained from commenting on neither the motivation behind the incident nor the night’s riots in the city.

“I’m here for about 20 years now, I don’t know politics here deeply to have an opinion about it,” he said. “What I can say is I know the protest is against immigrants and for me it doesn’t make sense because I’m an immigrant myself and I was the one who helped out. For me it doesn’t make sense.”